Anti bullying group helps circle school in 'Chain of Kindness'

STRAFFORD — Students at Strafford School recently celebrated several months of creating a “Chain of Kindness,” by encircling the school in it. It turns out a little kindness really does go a long way.

The chain was comprised of 5,000 individual links of construction paper, each link representing a kind act. By mid-February, the chain had reached nearly a third of a mile in length, long enough to circle the school, even with big snow banks in the way.

“The Chain of Kindness was a good community activity that the whole school contributed to,” eight grader LilyGrace York said. “It really opened up people’s eyes to look for kind actions, and many people put in a great effort.”

Guidance Counselor Rick Kaufman explained that the chain was an anti bullying project run by the group Kids Against Bullying (K-A-B). It was an adaptation of an activity done by Rachel’s Challenge (a program in honor and memory of a Columbine shooting victim).

“The goal for our students and staff was to do as many acts of kindness as possible and to write down these acts (plus acts of kindness that others had done for them or acts of kindness that they had witnessed at school) on K-A-B prepared strips of colored construction paper,” Kaufman said, noting that each link measured four inches. “The idea was that if everyone is trying to be helpful and being kind to each other, they presumably aren’t going about the business of hurting or bullying each other.”

Each classroom kept its own individual chain, which was added to whenever acts of kindness were observed. However, the original estimate of 3,000 links to circle the building was expanded to 4,000 due to the recent snowstorms.

“Everyone tried to be super kind during the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. We even had a couple of Kindness Days in which everyone stopped at 3 p.m. to en masse write down their kindnesses from the day,” Kaufman said. “We came up with the reminder: ‘Think, Ink, Loop and Link’ to help students remember what kind acts they had done, to write it down, and to loop and link it to their chain.”

By Valentine’s Day, there were an estimated 5,000 links, more than anyone expected. Kaufman and the K-A-B students collected the classroom chains and joined them together in the gymnasium.

Led by eighth grader Summer Barnes, K-A-B chair, and K-A-B fifth grade member Meski Wallace, about 125 students carried the fragile links outside on a thankfully sunny and relatively windless day. Half the group went left and half went right and the two leaders met on the opposite side of the school.

“We had a system of spotters who blew whistles if there was a break in the Chain (one blow was stop, two was go ahead) and then they taped or stapled the break,” Kaufman explained. “It was slow going and took about 10 minutes to meet and join up. We made it around with room to spare, thanks to the many acts of kindness done by all of the students.”

The kids were joyous and exhilarated when they saw that the Chain of Kindness was actually long enough to be joined, Kaufman added. Many students broke into a run and circled the entire school following the chain. Eventually, classes were invited outside to walk the perimeter of the school and view the chain.

“At first I didn’t think we would be able to do it,” said eighth grader and K-A-B member Camryn Chick. “We’ve accomplished a lot this year.”

Within a couple hours, the chain was wet from the melting snow banks and was blowing apart from the wind, so it was gathered up and recycled.

“Like a precious flower, the life of the Chain of Kindness was very short,” said Kaufman. “When I was asked by some students why we couldn’t keep the chain, I explained that the chain was only a symbol and that the true meaning of the activity was their kindnesses and those kindnesses are what should endure.”

There were never any promised rewards for making the project succeed. It was felt that being kind to others feels good and that feeling is its own reward.

The kids definitely understood this, Kaufman said. “It’s hoped that these acts of kindnesses will continue in the days ahead without having to rely on a Chain of Kindness.”